Apparatus and method for insect control



July 23, 1963 w. R. SNYDER ETAL 3,098,703

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSECT CONTROL Filed Aug. 4, 1959 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM z. NYDEK BYGILBEET G. EEUTEIZ wwsom, LEWIS i M QAE:

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR a INSEQT CONTROL William R. Snyder, Detroit,and Gilbert G. Renter, Dearborn, Mich, assignors, by direct and mesneassignments, to Gilbert G. Renter Company, a corporation of MichiganFiled Aug. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 831,611

8 Claims. (Cl. 21-106) This invention relates to sanitizing means forrefuse containers, and more particularly to apparatus for dispensingsanitizing agents into refuse containers to effectively destroy insects,germs and fungi and which will also deodorize such containers.

The maintenance of sanitary conditions in garbage cans has been a longstanding problem. As is well known, refuse containers provide a breedingground and food source for many insect pests, particularly the commonhouse fly, and also harmful germs frequently breed in such containers.Additionally, the decomposed organic matter usually emits an obnoxiousodor.

This problem can, of course, be solved by frequent application ofinsecticide or germicide into the garbage can. However, the averagehouseholder usually does not follow such sanitary practices to the pointwhere his refuse containers are completely sanitary at all times.

According to the present invention, means are provided for maintainingcomplete sanitation in refuse containers without the necessity offrequent applications of insecticide, germicide or deodorizing agents.It is believed that the use of the invention, inasmuch as it requiresvery little effort on the part of the householder, will achieve wideacceptance and will materially assist in maintenance of sanitaryconditions in the community, Which is particularly important in crowdedmetropolitan areas.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means forsanitizing refuse containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide sanitizing means whichwill act as an insecticide, germicide, fungicide and deodorizing agent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for securementto the underside to the garbage can lid which will automaticallydispense sanitizing agents at a predetermined rate for an extendedperiod of time, approximately four to five weeks, without the necessityfor refill.

An additional object of the invention is to provide sanitizing agents inthe form of tablets which will decompose upon exposure to the ambientatmosphere of a garbage can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide sanitizing tabletsin two forms, one form which will begin decomposition immediately uponbeing placed in a garbage can and continue to decompose for a period ofdays, and a second form of tablets which will start to decomposeapproximately at the point where the first tablets are substantiallydecomposed, whereby the sanitizing means will provide effectiveprotection from the point of initial installation.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of a garbage canillustrating the installation of the present invention therein; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the apparatus ofthe present invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its Patented July 23,1963 application to the details of construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyemployed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the device 10 of thepresent invention comprises a perforated container 12, in the shape ofan elongated hollowed cylinder, which is releasably secured within aclosed refuse container 14 by means of a pair of clamps 16, 18.

A plurality of tablets 20 are carried in the perforated container 12. Aswill be more fully explained hereinafter, the tablets 20 are of twotypes. One type begins to decompose as soon as exposed to the ambientatmosphere while the second type has a delayed action and does not beginto decompose in substantial amounts until after extended exposure to theatmosphere.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the bracket means comprises a pair of clamps16', 18 fabricated from a spring material. Each clamp is provided with apair of curved legs 22 which terminate in outwardly extending feet 24.The legs are provided with upwardly extending portions 26 on the upperends thereof, which portions 26 are interconnected by web member 28. Theweb member 28 is provided with an opening 30 to engage a screw 32 whichprojects through the garbage can lid 34. The device 10 may be mountedsimply by punching holes in the lid 34 and extending the screwstherethrough to threading engagement with the clamps 16, 18.

The container 12 is fabricated from a screen material which may besoldered along the edges to form a unitary structure. The screen may beof any desired mesh, such for example as from 18 to 60 mesh. Theselection of the proper mesh is based on the requirement that theopenings must be large enough to permit small powderlike particles topass through but small enough to contain larger undecomposed particlesof the sanitizing tablets. The shape of the container 12 is conformed,in general, to the shape of the tablets 202 The container is open at oneend to permit insertion of tablets and is provided with a cap 36 tosecure the tablets therein.

As previously mentioned, the sanitizing tablets are pro vided in twoforms. One type of tablet is for immediate effect. The second type isfor delayed effect, to come into operation after the first tablets havebeen substantially decomposed and to last for a longer period than thefirst tablets. Each type of tablet is formulated according to the samegeneral plan. Each contains a major portion of an agent which willevaporate in the ambient atmosphere of a garbage can to causedecomposition of the tablet. Additionally, each tablet contains a minorportion of an agent which does not evaporate but provides a very strongpowdered sanitizing agent.

The quick acting tablets consist of a major portion of a relativelyrapidly evaporating insecticide substance such as para-dichlorobenzene,camphor, thymol or naphthalene. The preferred ingredient ispara-dichlorobenzene. These ingredients form a heavy vapor which willtend to settle in air. They will begin to evaporate as soon as exposedto the atmosphere and flow down into the garbage can to immediatelybegin to kill flies or other insects which are contacted.

The second ingredient 'of the quick acting tablets is the gamma isomerof 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane. This agent, which is also known aslindane, will not dissolve to an appreciable extent in water and doesnot evaporate. When the evaporating agent vaporizes, the lindane willpowder off onto the contents of the refuse can. Linda-ne is a powerfulinsect killer and will destroy larvae and flies. As it does not dissolveor evaporate, it will be effective for a long time. When the garbage canis emptied, a portion of the lindane will remain in the can in adherencewith the side walls of the container. The container will therefore besanitized to some extent after the utilization of all of the tablets.

An example of the composition of a useful quick acting tablet is asfollows:

Percent Grains Para-dichlorobeuzene 95 66. 5 Gamma isomer of 1, 2, 3, 4,5, G-hexachlorocyelohexane- 5 8. 5

The para-dichlorobenzene in the above example may be varied from 61% to97% by Weight and the gamma isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaohlorocyclohexanemay be varied from 3% to 39% by weight.

The delayed action tablets comprise an evaporating agent which may beparaformaldehyde or trioxane. Paraformaldehyde is preferred. Theparaformaldehyde will evaporate and dissolve in water or the moisture ofthe refuse and forms a solution which has high oxidation properties tokill larvae, germs and fungi and will also diminish the odors of thegarbage can. In addition to evaporating, the formaldehyde will also forma powder which sifts into the garbage container.

The second agent of the delayed action tablets comprisesortho-benzyl-para chlorophenol, or other chlorinated phenolicdisinfectants such as trichlorophenol or tetrachlorophenol. In addition,straight phenol crystal may be used. The phenolics are very strongdisinfectants and Will effectively kill all germs which are contacted.The phenolics do not evaporate but will form a powder as the tabletdecomposes and will sift down into the container.

An example of the composition of a delayed action tablet is as follows:

Percent Grains Paraformaldehyde 99 69. 3 Ortho-benzyl-para-chloroph enol1 0. 7

The paraformaldehyde in the above example may be from 69% to 99.3% byweight while the ortho-benzylpara-chlorophenol may be varied from 31% to0.7% by weight.

The delayed action tablets may be formed into case hardened tablets withsoft centers to provide an additional time delay. Both types of tabletsare formed in the usual way, for example, by adding a binder to theingredients to form a granular product then placing the product in ahopper which feeds a mold to form the tablets by com pression.Lubricants may be added to the composition to assist in the mechanicalprocessing.

The shape of the tablets is not critical. They may be formed as square,oblong, hexagon, octagon, round, or oval. In addition, the surface ofthe tablets may be flat, convex, concave or any desired combinationthereof.

In operation, the brackets 18, 20 are secured to the underside of agarbage can lid 34. It is best to place the container 12 above thehighest possible level of garbage so that the sanitizing agents will notbe buried in the garbrage and will always be effectively dispensedwithin the garbage can. Additionally, it is desirable to have the devicelocated on the lid because when the garbage can is emptied by thegarbage collector, it is frequently handled roughly and there would be adanger of damaging the container 12. The container 12, loaded withtablets 20, is positioned in the brackets 16, 18 and the lid closedwhereupon the quick acting tablets will immediately begin to sanitizethe garbage can. When the tablets have pa tially decomposed thenon-evaporating materials form a powder. Each time the lid is raised andmore garbage is placed in the container, at certain amount of thepowdered material will be sifted through the screen and into thecontainer. Consequently, each layer of garbage will be covered withsanitizing agent to effectively destroy any germs which may beintroduced with a particular deposit of garbage.

After all of the tablets have decomposed, the perforated container 12may be reloaded to continue sanitizing the garbage can. The quick actingtablets are substantially decomposed after from five to seven days. Thedelayed action tablets are substantially decomposed after from three tofive Weeks. Therefore as can be readily appreciated, it is onlynecessary to use one or two loads per year in the average temperateclimate, because germs and insects do not normally breed in the colderWeather.

It is to be understood that when the term sanitizing agent or like termsare used in this specification, the meaning intended is an agent havingthe general properties of an insecticide, germicide, deodorizing agent,fungicide and the like. This term is always taken to include provisionof an insecticide, as one of the principal objects of the presentinvention is to destroy flies and their larvae.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. In a device for sanitizing refuse containers including means forminga perforated container with a closed refuse container, the improvementcomprising sanitizing material carried in the perforated container; saidmaterial being decomposed by evaporation upon exposure to the ambientatmosphere to release sanitizing agents including an insecticide intothe refuse container; a portion of said sanitizing material beginning todecompose substantially as soon as exposed to the ambient atmosphere andat a rate to release effective amounts of sanitizing agents; theremaining portion of said sanitizing material beginning to decompose torelease effective amounts of sanitizing agents at a time subsequent toexposure to the ambient atmosphere.

2. In means for sanitizing refuse containers including a perforatedcontainer structure within a closed refuse container, the improvementcomprising the provision of a plurality of tablets carried in theperforated container; said tablets being decomposed by evaporation uponexposure to the ambient atmosphere to release sanitizing agents into therefuse container; said sanitizing agents including an insecticide, adisinfectant, a fungicide and a deodorizer; a portion of said tabletsbeginning to decompose substantially as soon as exposed to the ambientatmosphere and at a rate to release effective amounts of sanitizingagents; the remaining portion of said tablets beginning to decompose torelease efiective amounts of sanitizing agents at a time subsequent toexposure to the ambient atmosphere.

3. In a device for sanitizing refuse containers including a perforatedcontainer structure within a closed refuse container, the improvementcomprising the provision of a plurality of tablets carried in theperforated container; said tablets being decomposed by evaporation uponexposure to the ambient atmosphere to release sanitizing agents into therefuse container; said sanitizing agents including an insecticide; afirst portion of said tablets beginning to decompose substantially assoon as exposed to the ambient atmosphere and at a rate to releaseeffective amounts of sanitizing agents; said first portion of tabletsbeing substantially decomposed within a period of seven days; a secondportion of said tablets beginning to decompose to release effectiveamounts of sanitizing agents at a time subsequent to exposure to theambient temperature; said second portion of tablets being substantiallydecomposed after a period of five weeks.

4. In a device for sanitizing refuse containers including a perforatedcontainer structure having wall portions fabricated from a screenmaterial, said perforated container structure being disposed within aclosed refuse container, the improvement comprising the provision of aplurality of tablets carried in the perforated container; said tabletsbeing decomposed by evaporation upon exposure to the ambient atmosphereto release sanitizing agents including an insesticide into the refusecontainer; a portion of said tablets beginning to decomposesubstantially as soon as exposed to the ambient atmosphere of thecontainer and at a rate to release effective amounts of sanitizingagents; the remaining portion of said tablets beginning to decompose torelease effective amounts of sanitizing agents at a time subsequent toexposure to the ambient atmosphere.

5. In an apparatus for sanitizing refuse containers including aperforated container structure within a closed refuse container, theimprovement comprising the provision of a pluralityof tablets carried inthe perforated container; said tablets being decomposed by evaporationupon exposure to the ambient atmosphere to release sanitizing agentsinto the refuse container; a first portion of said tablets beginning todecompose substantially as soon as exposed to the ambient atmosphere andat a rate to release effective amounts of sanitizing agents; a secondportion of said tablets beginning to decompose to release effectiveamounts of sanitizing agents at a time subsequent to exposure to theambient atmosphere; each of the tablets of said first portion comprisingfrom 61 to 97% by weight of para-dichlorobenzene and from 3 to 39% byweight of the gamma isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane; each ofthe tablets of said second portion comprising from 69 to 99% by Weightof paraformalde hyde and from 0.7 to 31% by weight ofortho-benzylpara-chlorophenol.

6. Sanitizing means substantially as described in claim 5 and furthercharacterized in that each of said tablets of said first portioncomprises 95% by weight of chloro dichlorobenzene and 5% of weight ofthe gamma isomer 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane and each of thetablets of said second portion comprises 99% by weight ofparaformaldehyde and 1% by weight of ortho-benzyl-parachlorophenol.

7. Sanitizing means as described in claim 5 and further characterized inthat each of the tablets of said first portion comprises from 61 to 97%by weight of an agent selected from the group consisting ofpara-dichlorobenzene, camphor, naphthalene and thymol and from 3 to 39%by weight of the gamma isomer of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane andeach of the tablets of said second portion comprises from 69 to 99% byweight of para formaldehyde and from 0.7 to 31% by weight of an agentselected from the group consisting of phenol crystals and chlorinatedphenolic disinfectants.

8. In a device for sanitizing refuse containers including means forminga perforated container within a closed refuse container, the improvementcomprising a plurality of tablets carried in the perforated container;each of said tablets including a first sanitizing agent which willevaporate in the ambient atmosphere and a second sanitizing agent whichwill not evaporate in the ambient atmosphere; said tablets beingdecomposed by vaporization of the first sanitizing agent upon exposureto the ambient atmosphere to release sanitizing agents in both vapor andpowder form into the refuse container; a portion of said tabletsbeginning to decompose substantially as soon as exposed to the ambientatmosphere of the container and at a rate to release effective amountsof sanitizing agents; the remaining portion of said tablets beginning todecompose to release eifective amounts of sanitizing agents at a timesubsequent to exposure to the ambient atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS175,843 Thompson Apr. 11,1876

569,520 Russell Oct. 13, 1896 1,097,406 Erlenbach May 19, 1914 1,719,186Lowy July 2, 1929 1,996,353 Seydel Apr. 2, 1935 2,425,678 Hinegardner eta1. Aug. 12, 1947 2,658,017 Marhofer Nov. 3, 1953 2,734,483 Peo Feb. 14,1956 2,793,973 Cheronis May 28, 1957 2,802,590 Tupper Aug. 13, 19572,809,917 Hermelin Oct. 15, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES The Merck Index, 6thed. (1952), pub. Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., pp. 719, 329 and491.

Reddish: Antiseptics, Disinfectants, Fungicides and Sterilization, pub.by Lea and Febiger, Phila., Penna. 6th ed., 1954, p. 491.

1. IN A DEVICE FOR SANITIZING REFUSE CONTAINERS INCLUDING MEANS FORMINGA PERFORATED CONTAINER WITH A CLOSED REFUSE CONTAINER, THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING SANITATIZING MATERIAL CARRIED IN THE PERFORATED CONTAINER;SAID MATERIAL BEING DECOMPOSED BY EVAPORATION UPON EXPOSURE TO THEAMBIENT ATMOSPHERE TO RELEASE SANTIIZING AGENTS INCLUDING AN INSECTICIDEINTO THE REFUSING CONTAINER; A PORTION OF SAID SANITIZING MATERIALBEGINING TO DECOMPOSE SUBSTANTALLY AS SOON AS EXPOSED TO THE AMBIENTATMOSPHERE ANS AT A RATE TO RELEASE EFFECTIVE AMOUNTS OF SANITIZINGAGENTS; THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID SANITIZING MATERIAL BEGINNING TODECOMPOSE TO RELEASE EFFECTIVE AMOUNTS OF SANITIZING AGENTS AT A TIMESUBSEQUENT TO EXPOSURE TO THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE.